CDIC Hosts Alumni Career Networking Night
Assumption University’s Career Development and Internship Center (CDIC) hosted its Alumni Career Networking Night on November 5. This event, cosponsored by the Office of University Advancement and the ASPIRE (Alumni and Student Partnerships in Reflective Engagement) Program, connects students with members of Assumption’s extensive alumni network, creating opportunities for connection and professional development.
“Tonight is about connecting with alumni, learning more about how the value of your Assumption degree transfers to life outside of Assumption. It’s about learning more about potential opportunities, career paths and industries, and learning more about things out there that exist beyond the gates of 500 Salisbury Street,” said Shannon Curtis, Senior Director for Career Development and Strategic Initiatives. “You have a wonderful opportunity to speak with people in this room who were once in your shoes. So ask questions, ask career advice, and be open minded as you have these conversations this evening.”
President Greg Weiner spoke to students and alumni about the value of Assumption’s Catholic liberal education and how the students present should learn to articulate how that education has prepared and shaped them for their future careers.
“It is that combination of the skills you need to walk into the workforce and the enduring ideas that enable you to adapt to change that make you as powerful as you are,” said Weiner. “That, combined with the unique and extraordinary character and grit of Assumption students, makes you very valuable candidates – dare I say, unbeatable candidates – in the workforce.”
The event continued with a keynote speech from Danielle O’Connell ’07, who majored in social rehabilitation services with a concentration in speech language pathology and now works as Manager of Learning and Development at Consigli Construction Co, Inc. O’Connell spoke to students and alumni in attendance about how her Assumption education provided a solid foundation for the paths her career journey took her on, despite not working in the field she majored in.
Danielle O’Connell ’07 delivers the keynote speech.
“I truly believe much of the foundation of all the work and the things that I’ve experienced in my career, I can attribute to the experiences I had at Assumption,” said O’Connell. “I would encourage you to think about how you talk about the experiences that you’re having beyond the assignment, beyond just the coursework, the content and the subject that you’re learning – that is valuable, that will translate, and that is important, but you’re learning a whole lot more than that.”
O’Connell also focused on how staying open to opportunities despite hesitation helped her get to where she is today.
“My hope is that you hear this concept of staying open, staying curious, and tonight, if you have a conversation with somebody that you didn’t expect, what do you walk away and do with that information?” she continued. “Could it lead you somewhere unexpected for yourself? And as you make connections tonight and you’re thinking about how you take care of relationships, what do you do with that too?”
After the keynote speech, students and alumni had opportunities to speak to one another about career opportunities, graduate school applications, and life after Assumption.
“I saw the email in my inbox, and I decided it was a good networking opportunity,” said Jack Kinsella ’25. “I’ve connected with a couple of these alumni at prior events, so I want to say hi to them again and talk to them more about the application process for grad schools.”
“This my second time coming to the event,” said Joe Provost ’13, a physician assistant. “I want to be able to help alumni as best I can as a PA. With the new PA program opening, I’m interested to see if there’s a lot of interest in this program, and if there’s any way I could help the students get into the program, or to know what a PA does and what their capabilities are.”
“I wanted to meet people who at once went through the same process as me,” said Danielle Aiken ’26. “I wanted to gain knowledge about the real work world, and essentially that although I might not have a perfect idea of what I want to do now, I know that it’ll all work itself out.”
The CDIC is located in Alumni Hall, room 026, and is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.